Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a biodegradable/biodegradable polymer film may be used as a scaffold for tissue engineering scaffolds for engineering organized organs, such as vascular grafts, for example. In one embodiment, an ultraviolet (UV) resin made from a diacrylated biodegradable oligomer is molded into a flexible scaffold having cavities and/or channels. Channel/cavity size may be on the order of micrometers and/or nanometers, and thus the walls may have high aspect ratios. Smooth muscle cells may be deposited in the channels and because of the high aspect ratios, the cells may align along the channels/cavities as confluence is reached.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a three-dimensional structure of unidirectionally aligned cells. The method comprises providing a substrate with a microchannel. The microchannel is defined by at least a pair of opposing lateral walls and a base. In at least a portion of the microchannel the distance between the pair of opposing lateral walls is within the micrometer range. A first plurality of cells is seeded in the microchannel and the cells are allowed to proliferate up to at least a density of at least 90%. Thereby contact guidance cues are provided by the pair of opposing lateral walls of the microchannel, such that the cells align unidirectionally. Thereby a first layer of aligned cells is also formed at the base of the microchannel. A second plurality of cells is seeded in the microchannel, which already comprises a first layer of aligned cells.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a biodegradable/biodegradable polymer film may be used as a scaffold for tissue engineering scaffolds for engineering organized organs, such as vascular grafts, for example. In one embodiment, an ultraviolet (UV) resin made from a diacrylated biodegradable oligomer is molded into a flexible scaffold having cavities and/or channels. Channel/cavity size may be on the order of micrometers and/or nanometers, and thus the walls may have high aspect ratios. Smooth muscle cells may be deposited in the channels and because of the high aspect ratios, the cells may align along the channels/cavities as confluence is reached.